MEDIA: A New Impression on Society I created this wiki to help people understand how much influence society and the media has on women and girls of all ages. I want to educate people especially young girls and women that it is okay to be natural and that is perfection.
The ways in which media can influence people:
Physically
Emotionally
Personally
Professionally
Media seems to play a huge role in everyday lives. How many times have you watched a show or your child has and they say they want the hair or clothes they see? When I take my daughter to get her hair cut the first thing she does is look in a magazine at popular hairstyles to help
her decide which one she wants to try. Body image as seen in this next video clip plays an important role in our lives; "Though the mind-body distinction positions the body as the less important part of the dualism, body image has been demonstrated to be connected to self-esteem and emotional stability, suggesting the ways in which our bodies can have important implications for the state of our minds (Wykes & Gunter, 2005).(Ryle, 267)
According to Wood in Gendered lives, “From newspapers and television programs to video games and online communities, media shape our understandings of gender. They present images of women, men and relationships, and they shape our perspectives on events and issues relevant to gender.” This is very detrimental to a child’s view and their perception of what they are supposed to look like.
The media’s influence greatly affects the way we think; “In general poor body image is one of the first eating disorders symptoms often displayed.” If all women are seeing is fake airbrushed beauty, then we are competing against a false image with unrealistic goals. Also girls who are not overweight see the "imperfections" in their bodies because of what is portrayed as ideal in the media.
In Gendered Lives Wood states “The unrealistic images of men, women, and relationships that media advances encourage us to see ourselves, by comparison, as inadequate.” I think it is time we are educated about media’s intentions and understand that we are all human.
Although we all have a mind of our own our thoughts and perceptions are guided by what we see. Lately more and more media outlets have been more accepting of a less than perfect body image. As acceptance in media has increased so has private acceptance but there is still a long way to go.
Another great concern of media and how it affects people's lives is in the work place. Recent research shows "There has been a 66 percent increase in weight bias in the last decade, especially against women, Puhl reported in a study published in the Journal of Obesity. The numbers are now comparable to race bias." Although this doesn't seem like it would be related to media influence, it is the impression that society has on the body image that links these two factors. "The further you are from the societal ideal of beauty, the discrimination you face is exponentially harder," says Sondra Solovay, an attorney and author of Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight-Based Discrimination." Our society has been engrained with these thoughts and as members we have attacked each other and ourselves with "norms" that are not so normal.
My action plan includes raising awareness to break the cycle of abuse. Traveling to schools around the United States and giving mini presentations to students with actual survivors of eating disorders would be one way to shed some light on media's influence. I think reaching out to the students on a personal basis will open their minds and help them understand that they are not the only ones going through such pressure from society. Placing pamphlets at facilities such as Planned Parenthood Association would also reach out to a large number of people. The goal will also to be acceptance, of themselves and their peers, acceptance of normal. To fund my project I would work in conjunction with a volunteer organization like the Crisis Connection.
I created this wiki to help people understand how much influence society and the media has on women and girls of all ages. I want to educate people especially young girls and women that it is okay to be natural and that is perfection.
The ways in which media can influence people:
Media seems to play a huge role in everyday lives. How many times have you watched a show or your child has and they say they want the hair or clothes they see? When I take my daughter to get her hair cut the first thing she does is look in a magazine at popular hairstyles to help
her decide which one she wants to try. Body image as seen in this next video clip plays an important role in our lives; "Though the mind-body distinction positions the body as the less important part of the dualism, body image has been demonstrated to be connected to self-esteem and emotional stability, suggesting the ways in which our bodies can have important implications for the state of our minds (Wykes & Gunter, 2005).(Ryle, 267)
According to Wood in Gendered lives, “From newspapers and television programs to video games and online communities, media shape our understandings of gender. They present images of women, men and relationships, and they shape our perspectives on events and issues relevant to gender.” This is very detrimental to a child’s view and their perception of what they are supposed to look like.
The media’s influence greatly affects the way we think; “In general poor body image is one of the first eating disorders symptoms often displayed.” If all women are seeing is fake airbrushed beauty, then we are competing against a false image with unrealistic goals. Also girls who are not overweight see the "imperfections" in their bodies because of what is portrayed as ideal in the media.
In Gendered Lives Wood states “The unrealistic images of men, women, and relationships that media advances encourage us to see ourselves, by comparison, as inadequate.” I think it is time we are educated about media’s intentions and understand that we are all human.
Although we all have a mind of our own our thoughts and perceptions are guided by what we see. Lately more and more media outlets have been more accepting of a less than perfect body image. As acceptance in media has increased so has private acceptance but there is still a long way to go.
Another great concern of media and how it affects people's lives is in the work place. Recent research shows "There has been a 66 percent increase in weight bias in the last decade, especially against women, Puhl reported in a study published in the Journal of Obesity. The numbers are now comparable to race bias." Although this doesn't seem like it would be related to media influence, it is the impression that society has on the body image that links these two factors. "The further you are from the societal ideal of beauty, the discrimination you face is exponentially harder," says Sondra Solovay, an attorney and author of Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight-Based Discrimination." Our society has been engrained with these thoughts and as members we have attacked each other and ourselves with "norms" that are not so normal.
My action plan includes raising awareness to break the cycle of abuse. Traveling to schools around the United States and giving mini presentations to students with actual survivors of eating disorders would be one way to shed some light on media's influence. I think reaching out to the students on a personal basis will open their minds and help them understand that they are not the only ones going through such pressure from society. Placing pamphlets at facilities such as Planned Parenthood Association would also reach out to a large number of people. The goal will also to be acceptance, of themselves and their peers, acceptance of normal. To fund my project I would work in conjunction with a volunteer organization like the Crisis Connection.
Works Cited
Cadrain, Diane. "Boss Says, 'You're Too Fat' Weight bias is on the rise in American workplaces." 16 November 2011. AARP. 15 May 2012 <http://www.aarp.org/work/on-the-job/info-11-2011/weight-discrimination-in-workplace.html>.
Ryle, Robyn. Questioning Gender: A Sociological Exploration. Los Angeles: Pine Forge Press, 2012.
Wood, Julia T. Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, & Culture. Boston: Wadsworth, 2009.
YouTube. n.d. 15 May 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56IovPc5ms8&feature=related>.
YouTube. n.d. 15 May 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iENFuUAwVc>.
YouTube. n.d. 15 May 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJSsY4M4zkw&feature=related>.
YouTube. n.d. 16 May 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8WcIVwTJw>.